By Vicky · Published Jun. 8th, 2024
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Discover the top ten best cities to visit in Bavaria, with a map, town descriptions and best tours to take when you’re there.
Page Contents:
Best Cities to Visit in Bavaria Map
Best Cities to Visit in Bavaria List
- Munich – home of Oktoberfest
- Nuremberg – old & recent history
- Bamberg – well-preserved & medieval
- Regensburg – many layers of history
- Augsburg – stately and grand
- Würzburg – a famous residence and castle
- Ulm – climb the world’s tallest cathedral tower
- Bayreuth – a famous theatre and palaces
- Ingolstadt – home of Audi
- Landshut – a cute town with a grand castle
1. Munich
Munich is the capital of Bavaria and home to the famous Oktoberfest. It’s definitely one of the best cities to explore on a trip to Bavaria. There’s plenty to see, from Marienplatz and the Rathaus in the centre, to the huge Munich Residence, historic churches and world-class museums (and the BMW Museum…). Spend at least two days here, though you could easily spend a lot longer if you want to visit the museums.
Read more about visiting Munich
Best Tour: The best guided tour of Munich is the Third Reich & WWII Walking Tour* where you’ll delve into the city’s important and often dark history.
2. Nuremberg
Nuremberg is a very well-preserved historic city in Bavaria with plenty to see. You’ll discover lovely old buildings, Schloss Kaiserburg, and the home of the famous engraver Albrecht Durer. In a darker period, Nuremberg was also host to the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, and after the war, the Nuremberg Trials to convict Nazis were held here. There’s so much to see you could stay overnight and spend two days exploring the city.
Best Tour: Once you’re in Nuremberg, make the most of your time on a great guided walking tour*!
3. Bamberg
Bamberg is one of the most complete Medieval cities remaining in Germany. There’s plenty to see, including the large cathedral, cute streets, a grand Residenz and a castle. If you’re feeling energetic, you can walk from Bamberg to Schloss Seehof, another nearby castle.
Best Tour: If you like beer, this self-guided tour* will help you discover the breweries of Bamberg. Smoked beer is a speciality of Bamberg, and it’s definitely worth discovering this unique flavour.
4. Regensburg
Regensburg has a very long history, with some of the oldest ruins dating to Roman times when they built a fortress here. In the Medieval period Regensburg became a flourishing trading centre and today you can see the grand buildings and distinctive tall tower houses of the city. It’s a great city in Bavaria to visit if you like history, culture and beautiful buildings.
Best Tour: When you arrive in Regensburg there’s a fun little train tour* that takes you around the old town with an audioguide in English.
5. Augsburg
Augsburg is a grand and stately city not far from Munich. Founded by the nephews of Augustus Caesar, it’s one of the oldest cities in Germany. However, it really flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries when the powerful Fugger banking family rose to prominence. Additionally, today Augsburg has UNESCO World Heritage Status because of its water management system.
Best Tour: There’s a great Guided Walking Tour* in Augburg that visits all the main sights, including the extravagant Golden Hall and Fuggerei social housing complex.
6. Würzburg
Würzburg is at the northern end of the Romantic Road, a famous tourist route through Bavaria. There’s a grand Residence Schloss, a fortress on the hill and a charming historic old town to explore.
Best Tour: A sightseeing train tour* is an easy way to explore the town, with an audioguide available in many languages.
7. Ulm
Ulm is one of the less visited cities in Bavaria, but it’s a lovely town with lots to see and do. This includes climbing the tallest church tower in the world, exploring the cute Fisherman’s Quarter and admiring the highly decorated Rathaus (town hall).
Best Tour: To make the most of the city, go on a guided walking tour of Ulm* and delve further into the city’s past and present.
8. Bayreuth
Bayreuth is a musical town with a famous opera house and the home of Wagner. A Wagner-related music festival takes place in summer (late July and August), when the city really fills up with visitors. If you want to visit during this time, book your hotels and concert tickets well in advance. There’s also a nice old city centre and several grand palaces a quick bus ride away.
Best Tour: For a guided tour of the old centre, this walking tour by the local tourist information* is a great choice.
9. Ingolstadt
Most famous for its Audi Factory, Ingolstadt also has a lovely historic centre with plenty of interesting buildings, parks and churches. It also makes a very pleasant city for shopping as the streets are mainly pedestrianised with a small-town feel, yet has all the big brands.
Best Tour: A tour of the Audi Factory is the most popular tour in Ingolstadt, and it’s fun even for those not so interested in cars.
10. Landshut
Landshut is a quiet city and a lovely place to wander around, with wide pedestrianised streets and a river promenade. There’s an interesting church to explore plus a grand castle on the hill overlooking town.
Guidebooks to explore more of Germany
Check out the Best Day Trips from Munich, our Guide to the Romantic Road, or our Germany Hiking Page for more great travel and hiking ideas.
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